Pick Up Some Tips For Picnic Day

Be Safe. Be Smart, Be that Friend!

All of us students know that Picnic Day is definitely a fun day for you and your “squad.” Safe Party this Picnic Day by using some tips from fellow Aggies!

Tip #1 – I #SAFEPARTY by using a designated driver.

It might sound like a broken record, but everyone knows that drinking and driving is not okay. But when we are intoxicated we can make unwise choices that can impact our entire life! Police can arrest you if you are driving with a Blood Alcohol Concentration of 0.08 or more (.01 if under 21 and .04 for commercial vehicle drivers) so be sure to have a DD or alternate form of transportation if you’re drinking! Uber and Lyft are great options so that everyone can have a safe and enjoyable Picnic Day!

Tip #2 – I #SAFEPARTY by having a buddy system.

Going to any parties on Picnic Day? Going in a big group of friends? Use a buddy system! Having a buddy to stick with throughout Picnic Day can minimize any potential risks or harmful situations. This is especially helpful on Picnic Day because it ensures that every friend is accounted for and ultimately relieves the stress of worrying where everyone is. Let’s be real, there are so many awesome activities (on and off-campus) and keeping track of everyone can get complicated. Furthermore, having a buddy inherently means that you have two brains instead of one; you can both figure out exactly what you need from each other, like how many drinks you are planning on having, where you plan on going, etc!

Tip #3 – If you choose to drink alcohol, be sure to eat some food beforehand.

Eating beforehand slows the absorption of alcohol. On average, your body metabolizes one standard drink per hour. Having a full stomach decreases the rate at which alcohol is digested by the body. When drinking on an empty stomach, the digestive system is able to quickly process the alcohol, leading to absorption into the bloodstream. This leads to getting drunk faster.

It is recommended to eat foods that are high in protein, such as tofu or cheese1. Meals that are high in protein take longer to process and move slower through the digestive tract. As a result, the absorption of alcohol is delayed due to the stomach and small intestines working on the previous meal2.

Tip #4 – If you choose to drink alcohol, remember to alternate drinks with water.

It is important to drink water for two reasons: it slows the increase of your blood alcohol content (BAC) and it keeps you hydrated. As mentioned earlier, the liver can only process one standard drink per hour. Each drink increases your BAC, the amount of alcohol in the blood and body. Your BAC is influenced by various factors, for example, the number of drinks, the rate of consumption, weight and body composition, and sex assigned at birth. Drinking water gives yourself time to metabolize the alcohol that’s already present in your body.

Secondly, drinking water helps to keep you hydrated. Contrary to popular belief, alcohol actually serves to dehydrate the body. It interacts with the kidneys to prevent reabsorption of water. It leads to urine production, where the body loses more fluid and electrolytes3.

Overall, food and water intake have a big impact. If you’re going to drink alcohol, remember to do so responsibly by eating beforehand and drinking water.

Tip #5 – Don’t be an awful Aggie; Be a ‘lawful’ Aggie:

Remember the fundamental law – students under 21 are not allowed to store or consume alcohol. If you are above 21, you are allowed to store and/or consume alcohol, but other university standards still apply. One can be prosecuted criminally and reported to the Office of Student Support and Judicial Affairs (OSSJA) if they break any laws or if they display violence, for example. So be reasonable and polite with officers, and always have someone relatively sober speaking to the officer. Consequences of breaking laws may include suspension and dismissal from the college.

For Picnic Day specifically, like the previous years, the safety enhancement zone will be in effect. Specific policies have been put into place to ensure continued safety of attendees. Fines for violations are doubled as follows for the 36-hr period of 6pm Friday to 6am Sunday4.

General noise: $403

Urinating in public: $403

Open containers of alcohol: $321

Smoking in public: $485

Minimum citations in City of Davis: $239

Although there are these strict laws that might seem scary, do note that other policies exist that might be in students’ favor. For example, if your party gets out of control and if you seek help to close down the party, the officers are happy to help.

The major policy that we have at UC Davis to encourage students to reach out for help in medical emergencies is the Aggies Act. The Aggies Act aims to remove the fear of getting into trouble when seeking medical assistance for someone who may be overdosing on alcohol or other drugs. It is a Good Samaritan plus Medical Amnesty policy – meaning that it assists both the student calling for help as well as the student needing medical attention. To learn more about the Aggies Act, check out this link. If you are ever in a situation where you are afraid about someone’s life, don’t hesitate to call 911 and specify a medical emergency. You could save someone’s life this Picnic Day!

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The mission of Student Health and Counseling Services is to enhance the physical and mental health of students in order to help them achieve academic success, personal development and lifelong wellness by providing an integrated program of quality, accessible, cost sensitive and confidential healthcare services, tailored to their unique and diverse needs and to assist the University community, through consultation and education, to develop a healthy campus environment consistent with UC Davis "Principles of Community".